Norms of room temperature: comfortable indoor living conditions

Vasily Borutsky
Checked by a specialist: Vasily Borutsky
Author: Marat Kovalev
Last update: May 2019

In our apartments, the microclimate is formed by several factors and room temperature is its most significant part. The temperature comfort of households is individual, depending on their gender and age. However, the difference in heat demand among members of the same family is small and amounts to 2-3 ° C allowed by SanPiN standards.

We will tell you how to determine the optimal temperature, how excessive cooling or overheating affects the well-being of people. In addition, we denote the parameters of a comfortable microclimate, as well as provide effective ways to maintain a normal temperature in the room.

What determines the optimal temperature of the apartment?

Household comfort temperatures are dependent on the climatic location of the home. In the southern regions and in the northern regions, as well as in the western and eastern latitudes, the norm of house temperature will be different.

As for countries, their climate is also different. And since climate components, in addition to temperature, are atmospheric pressure together with air humidity, an acceptable thermal range is set by them together.

For instance, humidity of housing atmosphere: the high humidity inherent in hot countries requires higher values ​​for the normal temperature of the home, because Heat-intensive, moisture-saturated air actively takes away the heat of human bodies.

The formation of temperature

Changes in the temperature inside the house a periodic change of seasons. It is always warmer in summer than in winter. In a temperate climate zone, the acceptable room temperature of the warm season is + 22 ... + 25 ° С, in the cold season - + 19 ... + 22 ° С. Given the duration of exposure, the seasonal temperature difference, outwardly small, still matters.

Climate control of living rooms
Placing split-systems in the main rooms of the apartment will provide the necessary atmospheric parameters in the warm season. Household air conditioners are not able to fully heat housing at low winter temperatures

Finally, the temperature comfortable for a person in various rooms of the apartment is associated with his age and sex characteristics.

We note immediately - personal preferences for a particular temperature regimen do not mean health benefits. Excessive overheating, for example, refusal of air conditioning in the heat, or overcooling of a room due to a window open in the cold, will certainly harm the human body.

Maintained optimal temperature in the room should correspond to the temperature needs of households of different sex and age. For example, for women, a comfortable home atmosphere will be 2-3°With higher than for men - women are more thermophilic.

Young children need a room with a stable temperature in the range + 20 ° С ... + 23 ° С. Temperature changes are especially difficult to tolerate by an infant whose body is not yet capable of full-fledged (adult) thermoregulation.

For the room where the baby is, it is extremely important to maintain a stable temperature level of + 23 ° C ... + 24 ° C all year round, since a small child overheats and freezes much faster than adults.

The dangers of cold rooms

In medical terminology, hypothermia is called hypothermia - a condition that causes profound harm to the human body, contributing to the development of diseases of the nervous system and respiratory diseases.

Cold and hypothermia
In attempts to compensate for heat loss, the human body focuses heat supply on the organs of the trunk and head. Therefore, warming the limbs is necessary

Once in a cold atmosphere, our body seeks to block hypothermia by utilizing energy resources and dramatically increasing heat transfer. This works for a short stay in the cold.

However, with prolonged exposure to low temperatures, the body’s resources are insufficient to compensate for heat loss and the body cools below + 36 ° C.

A characteristic sign of hypothermia is trembling, stimulated by the body in response to cold - excessive muscle activity provides heat production. The hands and feet are freezing as the blood vessels in them contract to reduce blood flow and downplay the general cooling of the body.

A decrease in body temperature of less than + 35 ° C will cause a slowdown in the rhythm of the heartbeat, respiration and weaken mental activity.

Particularly dangerous is hypothermia in young children, whose body is physically smaller than an adult and is not able to quickly generate heat. A child’s body suffers from the cold much deeper than an adult.

Risks of overly warm rooms

With a hot room atmosphere, ideal conditions are created for the development of pathogens that cause infectious diseases, primarily skin and intestinal ones.

Heat and hyperthermia
Being in a direct stream of conditioned air cooled below + 22 ° C will result in a thermal shock to the body. Do not direct air generated by the air conditioner

Hyperthermia affects the human body adversely, especially on the heart. In a hot microclimate of a room a person sweats, which is why it loses a significant amount of moisture.

Blood thickens and becomes “heavy”, requiring increased work from the heart to pump it into the blood vessels. With cardiovascular diseases, such loads will be extremely difficult.

Dehydration, caused by the body’s desire to balance external and internal temperatures, worsens the water-electrolyte balance of the human body, weakens the nervous system.

The excessively warm atmosphere of the bedroom contributes to the development of insomnia, interfering with the normal thermoregulation of the body. In a moderately cool microclimate, the body quickly goes into the deep phase of sleep, redistributing internal heat from the center of the body to the limbs.

Temperature standards of the apartment

State norms for seasonal temperature are established in GOST 30494 and SanPiN 2.1.2.2645-10.The optimal temperature conditions for the living rooms of the apartment according to the mentioned state standards is the range + 20 ... + 22 ° С in the winter and + 22 ... + 25 ° С in the summer.

GOST housing temperature
The indicated temperature ranges are mandatory for the microclimate of residential facilities in the Russian Federation. But it is better not to allow standard-temperature minimums of the cold season and maximums of the warm months with a lack of health (+)

For technical rooms at any annual season, temperatures are determined by the range + 19 ... + 21 ° C for the bathroom and kitchen, + 24 ° ... + 26 ° C for the bathroom and + 16 ... + 18 ° C for the pantry.

Understanding the difficulty of keeping the temperature state of the microclimate within 2-3°Under optimal conditions, the developers of these standards in their textual part indicated the permissible ranges of room temperatures, namely:

  • living rooms - + 18 ° С ... + 24 ° С in the winter, + 20 ° С ... + 28 ° С in the summer;
  • kitchen and bathroom - + 18 ° С ... + 24 ° С;
  • combined bathroom - + 18 ° ... + 26 ° C;
  • pantry - + 12 ° С ... + 22 ° С.

Obviously, the permissible upper temperature range for non-residential premises, for example, + 24 ° С for a bathroom and kitchen, is oriented according to state standards to a warm annual period, and the lower, for example, + 12 ° С for a pantry - for a cold period.

Comfort microclimate parameters

Gostovskie standards are more intended for designers, housing and communal services and judicial procedural departments, since they establish the mandatory temperature order for residential premises.

SanPiN housing temperature
A microclimate is recognized as comfortable, which allows the human body to maintain a temperature of 36.6 degrees without complications. The “tabular” resulting range will allow maintaining such a body temperature, subject to body warming in winter and water consumption in summer

However, the full formation of a home microclimate requires attention to the recommendations of experienced doctors and psychologists, to the individual preferences of households.

Bedroom. The human body needs a dream not only because of fatigue during the wakefulness period - to produce the hormone melatonin, which controls the biorhythms of our bodies.

The lack of acceptable conditions for sleep and, accordingly, the hormonal activation of melatonin, results in insomnia and a “broken” state - general weakness and headache, and a slowdown in the mental functions of the brain.

For a complete rest of adult households, the temperatures in their bedrooms should be maintained in the range + 17 ° С ... + 18 ° С, i.e. The "sleeping" microclimate should be cooler than other living quarters. In a warmer, as well as in a cooler atmosphere, it is more difficult to sleep.

Children's room. Its optimal temperature determines the age of the child. For a baby, the best are + 23 ° С ... + 24 ° С, because the baby’s body is not capable of “adult” thermoregulation. For children over 3 years old, the temperature will become + 21 ° С ... + 22 ° С.

The room of the kitchen. The work of household equipment from the usual configuration of the kitchen - stove, oven, electric kettle, microwave, hood, etc. - is always accompanied by heat. Accordingly, when cooking, the atmosphere of the kitchen becomes warmer than in other rooms.

With a traditionally small size of the kitchen, the heat radiation of the kitchen appliances warms it up pretty quickly. Therefore, it is enough to maintain the temperature of this room in the range of 18-19 ° C.

Underfloor heating
Electric floor heating systems reach their maximum heating faster and more accurately hold the temperature than circuits with a liquid coolant. And do not flood their neighbors

Bathroom. Bathing procedures are accompanied by intense saturation of the atmosphere of the bathroom with moisture, which is why the microclimate of a room with a temperature outside the range of 24-26 ° C will be uncomfortable.

For other rooms and corridors, a comfortable mode will be 18-22 ° C. The temperature differences between the rooms of the apartment should not be more than 2-3 degrees,

In winter, less heat is required; in summer, more.Otherwise, the temperature imbalance between the external environment (street) and residential premises will be stressful for the body.

A sharp change in the temperature of the surrounding space when leaving the apartment from the microclimate of the apartment may be followed by overcooling or overheating of the body, which, as discussed above, is equally bad.

The optimal difference in atmospheric temperatures of the house and the street during the transition between them is 4-5 ° C. Therefore, one should not overheat an apartment in winter or supercool in summer.

How to provide temperature conditions?

The tasks of maintaining the microclimate in the optimal temperature range are divided into two - cooling the atmosphere of the rooms in the warm months and heating in the cold season.

The first task is quite complete. air conditioning equipment, placed independently in bedrooms, living room and kitchen. The temperature sensors of single-unit and two-unit air conditioners (split system) will maintain the set temperature, strictly following the user settings.

Radiator thermostat
The gas bellows integrated in the thermostat reacts to the temperature of the room atmosphere, displacing the spool and controlling the flow of coolant

More rational to use invert climate equipmentable to maintain the temperature of the indoor microclimate gently, without sharp emissions of cold air currents.

Until mid-September, split systems can operate on heat even in a temperate climate zone, but with an increase in the temperature difference “apartment-street” it will be impossible to use split systems for heating.

The task of maintaining a comfortable atmosphere in the house will go to the heating equipment - central heating radiators and underfloor heating systems.

It is not difficult to control the temperature conditions of the heating system “warm floor”. Liquid systems are equipped with a thermostatic valve, or an automatic pump and mixing group, equally capable of controlling the temperature of the coolant circulating along the circuit built into the floor.

In infrared and electric floors temperature control is carried out by digital, programmable or electromechanical temperature controllers. Constantly checking changes in temperature with predetermined threshold values, they turn off or turn on the system.

The classic heating systems of apartments, based on the circulation of hot water through pipes with radiators, also allow temperature control.

It will be necessary to equip the pipe at the coolant inlet to the radiator with an automatic temperature controller (thermostat) that controls the intensity of the hot water supply according to a given parameter.

Note that it is easier to complete the circulation-radiator heating system with battery thermostats when it is two-pipe version. For a single-pipe circuit, the pipe circuit must be supplemented with a bypass, which creates an outlet channel for the coolant in front of the radiator.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

On the significance of a warm room atmosphere for newborns:

Shut-off equipment for temperature control of heating radiators:

Proper climate control of the apartment using split systems:

The need to establish and maintain optimal temperature regimes in living rooms is important, because the microclimate of the apartment significantly affects the health of households.

A temperature imbalance exacerbates chronic diseases and promotes the acquisition of new ones, and normalization of the atmosphere by temperature, on the contrary, strengthens the body.

Share with your readers your personal observations regarding the parameters of a comfortable temperature at home. Tell us about ways to normalize the temperature regime. Please leave comments on the article, ask questions and participate in discussions. The contact form is located below.

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Visitors Comments
  1. It is very cold in our apartment in autumn and winter. Even when the outside temperature is positive, for example, from +1 to +5, it is warm when the batteries are turned on. As soon as the air temperature in the street drops to minus, the apartment becomes cold, the air temperature is +16. We have a small child, we have to turn on the heater, but it dries the air - this is also not good for the child. Therefore, we warm ourselves with warm clothing.

    • Expert
      Vasily Borutsky
      Expert

      Hello. And why do you suffer such negligence of your UK? The temperature standard in apartments is set by GOST R 51617-2000 and SanPin. Any deviations from it should be eliminated by them. Write a complaint to the Criminal Code in cold weather, if they do not respond and do not come with a check, conduct an independent examination of the temperature regime and safely submit it to the court, housing inspectorate or prosecutor's office. As a rule, people win such courts, tariffs are recounted, the Criminal Code pays a fine.

  2. Larisa

    Unfortunately, these standards are rarely observed by management companies. While the children were small, they were constantly ill. It’s cold in autumn. Even when given heating, the batteries are a little warm. And in the spring, often the temperature dropped closer to zero. Fortunately, recently there has been a positive trend. The heating season is extended, only now everything falls into the penny.

  3. Irina

    Gas was connected to our house, but, as we saw, it is very difficult to control the temperature without sensors. We decided to switch to wood stoves. Even in a large house, this is a convenient option: the stove does not generate heat immediately, but evenly throughout the day. Of course, caring for the stove is troublesome: you need to drag firewood into the house, constantly clean the stove, clean it from soot, but the benefits to the family budget are undeniable. The husband pulls the logs with a trailer in a car, while he himself cuts and pricks. Almost no cost, and the house is always comfortable.

    • Expert
      Vasily Borutsky
      Expert

      Hello. You are great! I would like to give you some tips on soot:

      1. Most coniferous tree species, birch bark and pellets pollute the chimney soot. The best for the furnace are the firewood of apple, oak, hornbeam, poplar, pear and so on.

      2. Maintain a temperature of combustion from 120 to 320 degrees, a fire with a lower mode increases deposits. By the way, during the kindling, it is necessary to preheat the combustion chamber with wood chips and finely chopped wood and close the furnace shutter in time.

      3. It is not recommended to use raw firewood, they contribute to the formation of deposits.

      4. Do not burn garbage in the oven, especially plastic, OPS, paint and varnish materials.

      5. During intense burning, throw potato peelings into the furnace, they will soften soot, thanks to starch and it will be much easier to clean the stove. This is an old method. Also, before kindling, you can throw a handful of ordinary table salt on the firewood in the nozzle.

      6. Aspen wood and birch (not bark!), In the final stage of planting should be used, since they help to detach soot, and since at this time the temperature of the furnace is at its maximum, it will burn, and not just fall into the nozzle.

      Good luck and thank you for sharing your experience.

  4. Alexander

    People, do not freeze and endure.If the temperature in the apartment is lower than expected, then call the management company, they will send a person who will have to measure the temperature and fix the problem. If you cannot solve it right away, the Criminal Code must change your heating tariff. Payment should be reduced by 0.15% for every hour until the norms are respected. If the Criminal Code does not want to do anything, then write to the consumer protection society and the prosecutor's office. The main thing is to file all claims in writing.

  5. Anton

    Please explain why the temperature for 36.6 ° C is not considered the norm for residential premises, after all, is it the most natural for the body? Is that logical?

  6. Zoya Grigorievna

    I would like to know how to deal with HOA, if the air temperature in the apartment is 18-19 degrees, and in the radiator the water temperature hardly reaches 40 degrees. Living physiologically is not physiologically comfortable. But according to the standards approved by state structures, is this permissible, and there is no way to achieve more?

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